Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 784: Shri Prana rupini (ōṃ prāṇarūpiṇyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is the nature of life for all universal beings.

She is in the form of vital air, Prana as discussed in earlier Nama 783, means Brahman. Prana also means the full form of the deity, here it is the Divine Mother. Prana also means the Nitya deities, sixteen daily deities.

She is in vital energy or vital air form. Prana is Brahman, which is the Divine Mother form also.

The previous Namam, Prana stands for Brahman. Rupini means literally of form, but does not signify a definite form; it implies that the Divine Mother is of the nature of Brahman.

Chandogya Upanisad (IV.10.4) says, “Prana is Brahman; bliss is Brahman; Akasa is Brahman”. In Manu Smrti (XII.12.3), it is said,” The same Brahman sometimes is called fire, while others call it as Manu, Prajapati, Indra, Prana and Maheshvari.”

In the Nithya Tantra, the sixteen Nitya (daily) deities are called Pranas. It is said that the planets and stars move according to the breath (prana) of the deities. The Divine Mother shines at the centre of these deities; hence She is called Prana Rupini.

The Divine Mother is the nature of life for all universal beings.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 19 March 2022.Updated 31 May 2025.

 

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamis AparnaSan Ramon, California, USA, with Commentary by T. V Narayana Menon

2.     Shri Lalitha Sahasranama Stostram published in Tamil by N. Ramaswami Iyer charities’ societies, Trichirapalli, India, with Commentary by C. V. Radhakrishna Sastry.

3.     The Lalitha Sahasranamam published in Tamil by Shri Ramakrishna Thapovanam, Thiruipparaithurai, Trichy District, Tamilnadu, India with commentary by Shrimath Swami Sithbavandar